| High School
- E2.1 Earth Systems Overview
The Earth is a system consisting of four major interacting
components: geosphere (crust, mantle, and core), atmosphere
(air), hydrosphere (water), and biosphere (the living
part of Earth). Physical, chemical, and biological
processes act within and among the four components
on a wide range of time scales to continuously change
Earth’s crust, oceans, atmosphere, and living
organisms. Earth elements move within and between
the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere
as part of geochemical cycles.
- Earth
Systems - Miami Museum of Science
A website containing all 4 Earth Systems. It has
general information, images, maps, and student
activities for the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere,
and atmosphere.
- Geochemical
Cycles
Contains 6 short color vidoes pertaining to the
Geochemical Cycles (Water, Nitrogen and Carbon
Cycles). Also links to videos showing how the
various cycles have a global impact.
- Global Climate Change New
Deals with Global
Effects of Climate change in the atmosphere,
hydrosphere and more. Has graphs, pictures and
interactions of the greenhouse effect and atmospheric
change. Includes overview of the Earths systems
including biospheres, hydro and atmospheres.
- Introduction
to Geochemical Cycles
Lecture notes covering an introduction to the
Geochemical Cycles. Excellent diagrams and charts
explaining the complex processes.
- E2.2 Energy in Earth Systems
Energy in Earth systems can exist in a number of forms
(e.g., thermal energy as heat in the Earth, chemical
energy stored as fossil fuels, mechanical energy as
delivered by tides) and can be transformed from one
state to another and move from one reservoir to another.
Movement of matter and its component elements, through
and between Earth’s systems, is driven by Earth’s
internal (radioactive decay and gravity) and external
(Sun as primary) sources of energy. Thermal energy
is transferred by radiation, convection, and conduction.
Fossil fuels are derived from plants and animals of
the past, are nonrenewable and, therefore, are limited
in availability. All sources of energy for human consumption
(e.g., solar, wind, nuclear, ethanol, hydrogen, geothermal,
hydroelectric) have advantages and disadvantages.
- Data
and Images
Here you can explore data sets in a very visual
way. Scroll your mouse over Atmosphere, Oceans,
Land, Life on Earth, and Heat & Energy to
see the specific variables you can choose. Pass
your cursor over the icons listed to the right
to browse the data sets by subject.
- Energy
in the Earth System
Excellent site with links to the various energy
system on Planet Earth. The site has interactive
lessons, data for experimentation, and visual
lessons.
- Ocean
Currents
Outstanding
This is a audio/visual lesson on circulation in
the ocean from the flow of energy within the atmosphere
and ocean.
- E2.3 Biogeochemical Cycles
The Earth is a system containing essentially a fixed
amount of each stable chemical atom or element. Most
elements can exist in several different states and
chemical forms; they move within and between the geosphere,
atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as part of
the Earth system. The movements can be slow or rapid.
Elements and compounds have significant impacts on
the biosphere and have important impacts on human
health.
- BioGeoChemical
Cycles
Outstanding
- This web site includes text and various diagrams
to describe four biogeochemical cycles that operate
in nature.
- BIOGEOCHEMICAL
CYCLES
Nice site that covers the major biogeochemical cycles
on Earth. Good diagrams for the water, carbon,
nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur cycles with explanations
and facts for each.
- Carbon
Cycle Game
In this game, you will travel the carbon cycle.
Your objective is to get to all the places that
carbon is stored along this map. Earn extra points
by correctly answering the carbon challenge questions
at the yellow stars.
- Carbon
Cycle and Climate Change
This site explains the connection between the carbon
cycle and climate change. It contains diagrams,
graphs, and links to related topics.
- Earth
Observatory - Carbon Cycle Reference
This site is published by NASA. It is a good reference
site that goes in depth into human effects and climate
change.
- Vision
Learning
This site contains modules of the carbon cycle,
nitrogen cycle, and hydrologic cycle. Each page
can also be viewed in Spanish.
- E2.4 Resources and Human Impacts on Earth
Systems
The Earth provides resources (including minerals)
that are used to sustain human affairs. The supply
of non-renewable natural resources is limited and
their extraction and use can release elements and
compounds into Earth systems. They affect air and
water quality, ecosystems, landscapes, and may have
effects on long-term climate. Plans for land use and
long-term development must include an understanding
of the interactions between Earth systems and human
activities.
- Air
and Health Activities
Outstanding
- This website provides at least 4 different
activities involving air pollution. The Real Time
Air Quality Exercise allows students in groups
to collect air samples, which tells them about
the amount of carbon monoxide and particulates
in the air. They can then use a spreadsheet to
organize their data, which they download from
a link. There are also simulations such as Co-City,
Lung Attack, and Recipe for Ozone, which inform
students on the ingredients of ozone, and the
effects that ozone has on us.
- Backyard
Conservation
Tip sheets and how to's for backyard ponds, wetlands,
mulching, composting, tree planting and more.
These sheets are .pdf files that can be downloaded.
The files are all about 4 pages long.
- Burning
Household Waste
A two-page handout on burning household waste.
It includes information on "Backyard Burn Barrels
VS Municipal Waste Combustors, Household Waste
Burning Laws, Alternatives and much more.
- Dumptown
Game
This is a game where students are allowed to try
different methods to recycle and then see the
affects on Dumptown. There are other activities
on this site and suggestions on how teachers can
use the game in the classroom.
- EPA-Climate
Change- What you can do? The
webpage is very diverse. This site can be used
as a teacher resource or a student interactive
site. There are many activities for younger students
to explore. Lesson plans for high school students
can easily be found. Also it gives suggestions
for community involvement.
- EPA-Office
of Solid Waste-Reusable News
This site has a list of Newsletters and Bulletins
about waste, waste reduction, greenhous gases
and federal, state, and local efforts at recycling.
They are PDF files. There is an Acrobat Reader
download on the site if you don't have it. This
enables you to read the PDF files.
- EPA
- Superfund for Students and Teachers
This EPA site contains .pdf downloadable files
on the following: Activities, Exercises, Glossary,
Superfund Brochure, Games, Risks Concepts, Waste
(Where does it come from, Where does it go?),
Examining the Effects on Ecosystems, Federal and
State Laws on Hazardous Wastes and MUCH, MUCH
MORE.
- Fossil
Fuel Animations
This USGS site contains several animated gifs.
You may use these animations for any educational
purpose, you just need to cite the USGS as the
source.
- Garbage,
How can my community reduce waste?
This interactive site allows students to apply
their knowledge of recycling in reducing wastes.
The site shows costs involved to recycle and the
benefits.
- Michigan
Recycling Coalition
An overview of recycling information that is available
in Michigan. Lists local recycling sites and reasons
to recycle.
- Ozone
Action: Teacher's Resource Kit
This
sight contains kits that can be ordered by mail
or downloaded as a .pdf file (they are free).
The kit contains information of ozone, what causes
it and how to help prevent it. It contains a question
and answer section and some of the questions/answers
are aimed at southeast Michigan. It contains
19 pages.
- Patterns
of Change
This resource contains movies and 3-D snapshots
of the Earth that allow students to observe our
planet changing, over time and space, and to think
about what might be the causes or effects of those
changes.
- The
Disappearing Aral Sea
In this animation, satellite images show how water
diverted from the Aral Sea for agriculture has
caused the land-locked lake to shrink considerably
over a short period of time.
- The
Great Green Web Game
A game where students are asked questions as they
go around a board. A gauge shows the impact
on air, water, habitat and climate of the items
that are mentioned. At the end, students
are given how well they did on the game as a percentage.
- The
Recovery Act Program
This is an activity plan, which involves students
looking and researching recovery programs involving
solid waste, hazardous waste, and disposal of
underground tanks. There are links to student
activities. You will need to run the related links
to complete the activity, because this site is
the lesson, it is not something the students can
read and then conduct. Materials need to be printed
before you do this activity.
- What
Happens When an Oil Spill Occurs?
The images in this interactive activity show major
oil spills and the techniques and equipment used
to limit damage to coastal and other affected
environments. Simulations reveal how the effects
of an oil spill are influenced by variables such
as the nature of the coastline, weather, and the
type of oil spilled.
- What
Is Your Ecological Footprint?
Outstanding
This site contains an ecological footprint quiz
that estimates the amoudn of land and ocean area
required to sustain your consumption patterns
and absorb your wastes on an annual basis. After
answering 27 easy questions you'll be able to
compare your ecological footprint to others' and
learn how to reduce your impact on the Earth.
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